Key Facts

Other Names:

Perboric acid, sodium salt

Formula:

NaBO₃

Elements:

Sodium, boron, oxygen

Compound Type:

Salt (inorganic)

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

81.80 g/mol

Melting Point:

Not available; See Overview

Boiling Point:

Not applicable

Solubility:

Soluble in water, with decomposition

Overview

Sodium perborate (SO-dee-um per-BOR-ate) is a white amorphous powder commonly available as the monohydrate (NaBO₃·H₂O) or the tetrahydrate (NaBO₃·₄H₂O). The most frequently available form of the compound, the tetraborate, is a white crystalline solid with a salty taste that melts at 63°C (145°F) and loses its water of hydration when heated above 130°C (270°F). When dissolved in water, all forms of sodium tetraborate decompose to yield hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and sodium borate (Na₂B₄O₇). The formation of hydrogen peroxide, which is itself unstable and breaks down to release nascent oxygen (O), makes sodium tetraborate an excellent source of 'active'...